Historic distribution effort forming behind COVID vaccine authorization Wicked Local After hours of discussion on Thursday, the 22 leading U.S. vaccine scientists on the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccine available to Americans. The committee recommends the vaccine, made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech, with a vote of 17-4 with one abstention. The final decision for the approved-candidate will not clear a final hurdle until a committee convened by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meets Friday and Sunday to determine who should receive the first doses. Depending on timing, the first Americans could start to be vaccinated by the weekend, though more likely Monday.